I lived in Tempe for about a decade and the proximity to everything makes it an ideal location for living and owning rentals.Yes Scottsdale is kind of the desert equivalent to La Jolla, so you can expect to pay those prices for that fanciness as well.

I am Mike from Palm Desert.

The area is the High Desert and the town lacks even a gas station.

Now these panels are rotting in the desert and are all gone from the houses. 

I live in the High Desert in Southern California, specifically Hesperia.  

Location was also convenient to PV Mall and Desert Ridge, both within 8-10 miles from property with a quick drive to either one.This was a full gut.

I've looked all over Southern California and after reading some answers here, I think it's not viable.So I've shifted my searches into the desert (Arizona, Nevada) and found properties closer to the mark.... 

I am also new in real estate here in the high desert.

this is why I personally am bullish on Vegas.. at least the newer areas of Summerlin or Henderson.. homes that were built in the 90s or 2000s  Stucco  tile roofs desert landscape.. with A class tenants  no income tax and  property tax's subsidized by gambling. property tax's are by far teh lowest I have ever seen in the US for investors..

With a mixture if mountains, trees and desert it has some real potential.